Asia > Japan > Tokyo Travel Guide
Tokyo, Japan:
Founded In: Small fishing village fortified in the 1100s; established as Edo with a Castle in 1457; renamed Tokyo in 1868 when it became the Imperial Capital.
Language: Japanese; very little English.
Suggested Length of Stay: 5-6 Full Days with side trips.
Kon’nichiwa (Hello), welcome the sprawling capital of Japan and center of modern Japanese culture, Tokyo. What makes Tokyo so great is the amazing blend of old and new throughout the city. There are karaoke bars near 1,500-year-old temples, high-speed trains to help you catch live sumo wrestling, and old-school restaurants in alleys tucked between modern skyscrapers. It’s almost an overwhelming city at first, but when you peel back the layers of anime and neon lights, you’ll see that it is the chaos mixed with zen that makes Tokyo so amazing. Enjoy our Tokyo travel guide!
Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo:
2. Themed Restaurants & Cafes
3. Karaoke & Nightlife
4. Cherry Blossom Viewing
5. Tsukiji Fish Market & Sushi
6. Shibuya Crossing
7. Meiji Shrine
8. Sumo Wrestling
9. Tokyo Tower & Skytree
10. Imperial Palace
11. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
12. Yoyogi Park
13. Edo-Tokyo Museum
14. Kabukiza Theater
15. Odaiba Island
Read More: Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo
Brief History of Tokyo:
The blend of old and modern is nothing new for Tokyo as it goes to the city’s roots. First settled around 3,000 B.C., it started as a small fishing village which was later fortified by the Edo Clan in the 1100’s. Edo, meaning estuary, stuck as the city’s official name when an Imperial castle was built here in 1457 sparking. The city thrived under relative peace known as the Edo Period which led the emperor to move the Imperial Capital of Japan here from Kyoto in 1869.
With the transfer of power Edo’s name was changed to Tokyo, meaning Eastern Capital in Japanese. The city quickly transformed as the castle made way to a palace and man-made islands extended Tokyo’s footprint. Even though heavy damage from large earthquakes and WW2 bombing, the city has pulled through to remain one of the greatest places to visit on the planet. When you arrive at this epicenter for electronics, sushi, and anime, you’ll clearly feel the unique vibe of Tokyo.
